Abstract
Objectives: To develop an in-depth understanding of the perceptions and experiences of senior dental students before and after fieldwork visits to a centre for children with special needs. Methods: A qualitative study utilised open-ended questions and involved 39 fifth-year dental students. A thematic analysis of the collected responses was undertaken, and a hierarchy of themes and subthemes were developed. Results: Analysis of the pre-visit responses revealed three main themes and a number of subthemes: ‘negative expectations’, ‘positive expectations’, and ‘pain expectations’. Similarly, four main themes with a number of subthemes emerged from the post-visit responses: ‘positive perceptions’, ‘negative perceptions’, ‘oral problems observed’, and ‘recommendations’. Conclusions: Within the study limits, different perspectives were extracted. Prior to the fieldwork visit, students expressed their lack of self-confidence and inadequate preparation. Following the situated learning visit experience, students’ perceptions of managing special needs children was positively influenced. Students were happy to be exposed to such an experience, but hoped for better organisation and specialised supervision in the future.
Highlights
The number of children with special needs in Saudi Arabia (SA) is steadily increasing
The analysis revealed a number of themes related to the participants’ perceptions before and after the fieldwork visits
The analysis revealed three main themes with a number of subthemes under each one related to the participants’ expectations regarding their upcoming fieldwork visit to the children with special needs centre
Summary
The number of children with special needs in Saudi Arabia (SA) is steadily increasing. Across all administrative regions in Saudi Arabia, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah had the highest rates of disabilities related to mobility (57,343) and hearing (17,445) [1]. Through the National Society for Human Rights, Saudi Arabia has historically claimed responsibility of recognising and supporting the rights of people with disabilities, either directly or by enforcing civil rights to ensure their dignified living. Saudi Arabia has improved services provided to people with disabilities within a framework of legality and equality [2,3]. This disability rights movement has offered appropriate patient-centred dental and medical care, allowing high-risk children (including those with special needs) to obtain priority treatment
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